# US 12,765,898 B2 · Intravascular lithotripsy catheters with laterally movable and positionable emitters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,765,898 B2 - Document ID: US12765898B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/810,877 - Filed: 2024-08-21 - Published: 2025-02-27 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-08-25 - Assignees: Shockwave Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Shockwave Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher M. Lambert; Nancy P. Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12765898B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/22022: {using electric discharge} - A61B 2017/22061: {for spreading elements apart} - A61B 2017/22062: {to be filled with liquid} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A shock wave catheter for performing intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is provided. The catheter includes an elongated tube having a central longitudinal axis, an enclosure sealed to the distal end of the elongated tube, and an adjustable emitter assembly disposed within the enclosure. The emitter assembly includes at least one laterally moveable or positionable shock wave generating emitter that, in a first configuration, is closer to the central longitudinal axis of the catheter, and, in a second configuration, is farther from the central longitudinal axis than in the first position. Various embodiments include support structures for the emitters, multiple balloons for positioning the emitters, helical ribbons, angled emitter ports, and other exemplary features for moving and/or positioning the emitters. Systems and methods for treating lesions in a body lumen are also provided herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter for treating a lesion in a body lumen, the catheter comprising: an elongated tube; an enclosure sealed to a distal end of the elongated tube; and an emitter assembly disposed within the enclosure, the emitter assembly comprising: at least one emitter configured to generate shock waves inside the enclosure when power is supplied to the at least one emitter; a support structure supporting the at least one emitter, the support structure configured to expand outwardly relative to a central longitudinal axis of the elongated tube to move the at least one emitter farther from the central longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one emitter comprises a first emitter and a second emitter, and wherein lateral expansion of the support structure moves the first emitter and the second emitter laterally away from the longitudinal axis in opposing directions along a first plane intersecting the longitudinal axis; and an elongate member that extends along the longitudinal axis through at least a portion of the support structure, wherein the support structure comprises one or more apertures and the elongate member extends through one or more of the apertures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of segments connected by respective joints. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The catheter of claim 2, wherein the at least one emitter is mounted on the support structure proximate to one or more of the joints. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter of claim 3, wherein the at least one emitter comprises a first emitter mounted proximate to a first joint of the support structure and a second emitter mounted proximate to a second joint of the support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein movement of the elongate member in a proximal direction or a distal direction causes expansion of the support structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, wherein a diameter of the support structure is controllable by moving the elongate member in the proximal direction or the distal direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The catheter of claim 6, wherein the elongate member includes one or more markings that indicate to a user an amount of movement of the elongate member associated with one or more expanded diameters of the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, wherein the support structure comprises a first stop and a second stop that are spaced apart in a collapsed state of the support structure and abutting in an expanded state of the support structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, wherein the elongate member comprises a first tube and a second tube surrounding at least a portion of the first tube, and wherein movement of the first tube relative to the second tube causes expansion of the support structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 5 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 1 cm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter is oriented to generate shock waves outwardly from the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The catheter of claim 8, wherein the elongate member is operably coupled to at least one of the first stop and the second stop such that movement of the elongate member moves the first stop relative to the second stop. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, wherein the elongate member comprises a wire, and wherein movement of the wire in a proximal direction causes expansion of the support structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The catheter of claim 5, wherein moving the elongate member a predetermined distance causes the support structure to reversibly lock in an expanded state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein, in a collapsed state, the support structure has a diameter less than 1 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is an angioplasty balloon. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter between 8 mm and 12 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter greater than 20 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the body lumen is a blood vessel or a valve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein the support structure is formed of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of a metal or a polymeric material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein, prior to expansion, the support structure is in a collapsed state, and after expansion of the support structure, the structure can return to substantially the same configuration in the collapsed state. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in a collapsed state. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in an expanded state. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, further comprising one or more springs connected to a proximal end or a distal end of the support structure. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The catheter of claim 25, wherein the one or more springs are configured to bias the support structure in a collapsed state. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The catheter of claim 25, wherein the one or more springs are configured to bias the support structure in an expanded state. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, the emitter assembly further comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires extending along at least a portion of the elongated tube and configured to apply a voltage to one or more of the at least one emitter such that a current is transmitted across at least one electrode pair of the at least one emitter. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The catheter of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the support structure is conductive and configured to provide a voltage to the at least one emitter. ### Claim 30 A catheter for treating a lesion in a body lumen, the catheter comprising: an elongated tube; an enclosure sealed to a distal end of the elongated tube; and an emitter assembly disposed within the enclosure, the emitter assembly comprising: at least one emitter configured to generate shock waves inside the enclosure when power is supplied to the at least one emitter; and a support structure supporting the at least one emitter, the support structure configured to expand outwardly relative to a central longitudinal axis of the elongated tube to move the at least one emitter farther from the central longitudinal axis, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of segments connected by respective joints. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the at least one emitter is mounted on the support structure proximate to one or more of the joints. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The catheter of claim 31, wherein the at least one emitter comprises a first emitter mounted proximate to a first joint of the support structure and a second emitter mounted proximate to a second joint of the support structure. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 5 mm. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 1 cm. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the at least one emitter is oriented to generate shock waves outwardly from the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein, in a collapsed state, the support structure has a diameter less than 1 mm. ### Claim 37 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter between 8 mm and 12 mm. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter greater than 20 mm. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein the support structure is formed of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of a metal or a polymeric material. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein, prior to expansion, the support structure is in a collapsed state, and after expansion of the support structure, the structure can return to substantially the same configuration in the collapsed state. ### Claim 41 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in a collapsed state. ### Claim 42 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in an expanded state. ### Claim 43 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, the emitter assembly further comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires extending along at least a portion of the elongated tube and configured to apply a voltage to one or more of the at least one emitter such that a current is transmitted across at least one electrode pair of the at least one emitter. ### Claim 44 (depends on 30) The catheter of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the support structure is conductive and configured to provide a voltage to the at least one emitter. ### Claim 45 A catheter for treating a lesion in a body lumen, the catheter comprising: an elongated tube; an enclosure sealed to a distal end of the elongated tube; and an emitter assembly disposed within the enclosure, the emitter assembly comprising: at least one emitter configured to generate shock waves inside the enclosure when power is supplied to the at least one emitter; a support structure supporting the at least one emitter, the support structure configured to expand outwardly relative to a central longitudinal axis of the elongated tube to move the at least one emitter farther from the central longitudinal axis; and an elongate member that extends along the longitudinal axis through at least a portion of the support structure, wherein movement of the elongate member in a proximal direction or a distal direction causes expansion of the support structure. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein a diameter of the support structure is controllable by moving the elongate member in the proximal direction or the distal direction. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The catheter of claim 46, wherein the elongate member includes one or more markings that indicate to a user an amount of movement of the elongate member associated with one or more expanded diameters of the support structure. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the support structure comprises a first stop and a second stop that are spaced apart in a collapsed state of the support structure and abutting in an expanded state of the support structure. ### Claim 49 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the elongate member comprises a first tube and a second tube surrounding at least a portion of the first tube, and wherein movement of the first tube relative to the second tube causes expansion of the support structure. ### Claim 50 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 5 mm. ### Claim 51 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 1 cm. ### Claim 52 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the at least one emitter is oriented to generate shock waves outwardly from the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 53 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the support structure comprises one or more apertures and the elongate member extends through one or more of the apertures. ### Claim 54 (depends on 48) The catheter of claim 48, wherein the elongate member is operably coupled to at least one of the first stop and the second stop such that movement of the elongate member moves the first stop relative to the second stop. ### Claim 55 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the elongate member comprises a wire, and wherein movement of the wire in a proximal direction causes expansion of the support structure. ### Claim 56 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein moving the elongate member a predetermined distance causes the support structure to reversibly lock in an expanded state. ### Claim 57 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein, in a collapsed state, the support structure has a diameter less than 1 mm. ### Claim 58 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter between 8 mm and 12 mm. ### Claim 59 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter greater than 20 mm. ### Claim 60 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein the support structure is formed of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of a metal or a polymeric material. ### Claim 61 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein, prior to expansion, the support structure is in a collapsed state, and after expansion of the support structure, the structure can return to substantially the same configuration in the collapsed state. ### Claim 62 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in a collapsed state. ### Claim 63 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in an expanded state. ### Claim 64 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, the emitter assembly further comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires extending along at least a portion of the elongated tube and configured to apply a voltage to one or more of the at least one emitter such that a current is transmitted across at least one electrode pair of the at least one emitter. ### Claim 65 (depends on 45) The catheter of claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the support structure is conductive and configured to provide a voltage to the at least one emitter. ### Claim 66 A catheter for treating a lesion in a body lumen, the catheter comprising: an elongated tube; an enclosure sealed to a distal end of the elongated tube; and an emitter assembly disposed within the enclosure, the emitter assembly comprising: at least one emitter configured to generate shock waves inside the enclosure when power is supplied to the at least one emitter; a support structure supporting the at least one emitter, the support structure configured to expand outwardly relative to a central longitudinal axis of the elongated tube to move the at least one emitter farther from the central longitudinal axis; and one or more springs connected to a proximal end or a distal end of the support structure. ### Claim 67 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 5 mm. ### Claim 68 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the support structure is expandable to a diameter of at least 1 cm. ### Claim 69 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the at least one emitter is oriented to generate shock waves outwardly from the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 70 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein, in a collapsed state, the support structure has a diameter less than 1 mm. ### Claim 71 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter between 8 mm and 12 mm. ### Claim 72 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the enclosure has an inflated diameter greater than 20 mm. ### Claim 73 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the support structure is formed of a resilient material selected from the group consisting of a metal or a polymeric material. ### Claim 74 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein, prior to expansion, the support structure is in a collapsed state, and after expansion of the support structure, the structure can return to substantially the same configuration in the collapsed state. ### Claim 75 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in a collapsed state. ### Claim 76 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein material properties of the support structure bias the support structure in an expanded state. ### Claim 77 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the one or more springs are configured to bias the support structure in a collapsed state. ### Claim 78 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein the one or more springs are configured to bias the support structure in an expanded state. ### Claim 79 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, the emitter assembly further comprising a first wire and a second wire, the first and second wires extending along at least a portion of the elongated tube and configured to apply a voltage to one or more of the at least one emitter such that a current is transmitted across at least one electrode pair of the at least one emitter. ### Claim 80 (depends on 66) The catheter of claim 66, wherein at least a portion of the support structure is conductive and configured to provide a voltage to the at least one emitter.